CHAPTER 54
Logan Thames sipped his coffee and gently put the cup down. He looked at Jason seated across from him and grinned, "You might be interested to know that I now have our money."
Jason looked at the man on the other end of the table as grimly as he could be. He wasn't about to let the man see how ridiculous what he just said sounded. He raised his black coffee and drank it in one gulp. Done, he signaled James to come closer. The man went intimidatingly closer to Logan, who didn't as much as flinch.
"You have my money," Jason repeated to him
"Yes. Not that I have it, though. I have an idea who does. Or better phrased, we can find out who does." Logan pointed at Anderson, "He bugged the account that the money was paid into..."
Cutting into his story, Jason asked, "I take it you are talking about the deal we worked on?"
Shrugging nonchalantly, he said, "Which other one is there?" He adjusted himself to sit more comfortably. A gesture that made Jason scoff. "You mind?" He wanted permission to continue the story uninterrupted.
"How do I believe you didn't take the money all these years and just want to bull shit me now?"
"And what would I gain by that?"
Jason agreed with that. The man had nothing to gain from running to him now with a made-up story after all these years. Left to everyone, it would simply be easier to let things be. He nodded, "Go on."
Logan smirked and continued, "As I was saying, he bugged the account. Since we couldn't get any other proof as to where the money went. When you had been released" he eyed Jason viciously, trying not to recount that particular episode of his life, "I wanted to find that damn money for all the pain it caused me. Countless times I tapped your accounts to get it."
"We noticed."
"Yes, and you kept throwing me out." He grinned sourly, "Anyways, I found the money in an offshore account. It was the only clue, and I followed it vehemently. But the instant I found it, the account became nonexistent." He said and reached for his coffee again.
"The account was closed, or so we thought, and the money, gone. Until, boom, some days ago when it became active again. Only for a few minutes." Jason didn't look impressed. Logan gave it to him. The man could make his face as blank as anything. He was utterly unreadable. His reason for coming here hadn't entirely been to let the other man know about the account and the recent activity. He had come partly to watch Jason Valdez' reaction. Just as he was certain, the man was gauging him now. He wanted to be sure Jason didn't own the account. Grinning, he turned to Anderson, who was whispering across the table to Jason's man. He scowled at him, and Anderson leaned back in his chair. "Anders, it's best you show your friend here what you found"
Key was up the instant Logan offered. He went to peer at the computer as Anderson explained what he had done to get into the account. "I introduced a virus into the system. It was totally untraceable. They wouldn't suspect a thing." He said.
While the two men were bent over their computer, talking computer languages, James circled back and forth, stealing glances their way. The two bosses on the other end were engaged in an open contest. "I still don't see how this helps?" Jason finally asked as Logan looked away.
"This is proof that I didn't do it. And I don't think you did either. Anders here seems to think so."
Anderson shrugged at that statement and said to Key, "I know some of your tricks. I'd have picked something if it was you."
Key's laugh was croaky. Jason stopped to give him a stern look. "Yes. Yes." He stuttered, "I mean, I know yours too." He said, looking serious. He looked at the page Anderson had opened and studied it. The whole room was tensed as everyone waited for him to confirm the theory. Anderson explained some things to him and directed them to another page which he also explained.
Finally, Key looked up. Satisfied, he turned to Jason, "They are logged in, really. The account was active but now is almost non-operational. Meaning we are blind right now. Until the account is active again, nothing can be done or confirmed. But I could work up something. See if there's a way to keep the account open to us the next time it's active" He looked at Anderson like he was going to suggest something but thought better of it. Let the bosses call the shot.
"Great. I thought we could work this together." Logan put in, "Find a way to make this work, you both?" he directed the last part to the two nerds. They nodded sheepishly, glad to work together but said nothing.
"I'll think about this. See you later?" Jason answered; instead, he stood up, and Logan did too. "Thanks for bringing this to my notice" he stretched his hand for a shake which Logan took and shook firmly
Turning to take his leave, he said, "Perhaps we can have a chance to get our money."
"And put this ghost to rest forever." Jason said. He walked them to the door. Anderson and Key were whispering to each other behind them. James egged them on slightly with a click of his side stick. The men immediately found their way ahead of Jason and Logan. At the door, Key bade his friend farewell, and James closed the door firmly. They were to hold their private meeting without any stranger looking over their shoulder.
"What do you think?" Jason asked his analyst
"He's legit, boss. Trust me on this, we can get those bitches now."
"Good. I need you to get into that account ASAP." Jason relaxed as he watched a replay of everything that had happened. His attention mostly was on Anderson's screen. There was nothing shady there. It means Logan could be trusted. He had found their money!
And while the wall between these two seems to have mended, another wall was just about opening up in the Swiss family as Evangeline and her sister stormed their home angrily.
